GOOD NEWS FOR COFFEE DRINKERS

Coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in the American diet, according to a new study.

Over half of Americans drink coffee every day. But fruits and vegetables are usually promoted as the best sources of antioxidants, so the new finding is somewhat surprising. This is the first time that coffee has been shown to be a primary source for antioxidants.

Antioxidants are associated with many health benefits, including protection against heart disease and cancer. High antioxidant levels in foods, however, don’t always mean high antioxidant levels found in the body, which depends on how the foods are absorbed, a process that is still not well understood.

Black tea came in second after coffee, while bananas, dry beans and corn came in third, fourth and fifth. Dates, cranberries and red grapes, however, were among the best antioxidants on the basis of amount per serving size.